Replacement Speakers-Fender
joel....@gmail.com
I have a Fender Princeton Reverb, it is a great amp but i think it may
be time for a speaker upgrade. I play jazz so I am looking for a warm
round sound. Has anyone had any experiences with the Celestion
Greenback 10? Or anyother speaker suggestions? Thanks.
Jim
If it sounds anything like an original green back, you might like it ("woody"
lower mids with rolled off highs).
There are lots of options, from the new Eminence lines to custom (like Scumback
or Tone Tubby).
I tend to like speakers that are lower efficiency with rolled off highs.
Lighter magnets (all other things constant) mean a bit less bottom and less
efficiency. If you have a tube amp that you want to distort at a lower volume,
that helps (just don't exceed the power rating of the speakers). If you have
solid state or you want clean headroom, choose a bigger magnet for more
efficiency (and more bottom end, all other design factors constant).
A larger voice coil cap (the dome at the center of the speaker) also rolls off
the highs (all other factors held constant).
Squier
actually that's what I use now in 2x10 cabs (Celestion G10 Greenbacks)
They are hard to find (in US) especially in 8 ohms.
If you do want to get them then get them while you can because
they are still making these in UK. The last of the initial runs
will be done soon and then future production of the G10 Greenbacks
is expected to move to China (which Celestion claims that the exact
same machinery, materials, production process etc will be done and
there will be no change to the design.. blah blah). Well I got my sets
while they were being made in UK.
Ok -- with that being said -- I also own a Silverface Deluxe Reverb and
there is no way I would ruin the tones from that amp with british type
speakers (such as Vintage 30 or Greenback type of speakers).
I use my 2x10's G10 Greenbacks with a variety of amp heads but
personally you want to select a speaker that compliments the blackface/silverface
circuit design of the Princeton (which is very similar to my Deluxe Reverb).
So for most any other application I would definitely give 2 thumbs up
for the G10 Greenbacks. I just don't think this is the best speaker
for that Fender amp. (I have an Eminence Texas Heat installed in my
silverface DR and it sounds like a nice beefy Jensen and is a perfect
compliment to the blackface/silverface circuit).
******************
Here is my suggestion for smooth warm round sounds for that Princeton.
Eminence Lil Buddy -- this is a super smooth sounding 'hemp cone' speaker
that sounds better than far more expensive speakers of this type.
One of the smoothest and best jazz type toned 10 inch speaker out there.
These take a while to break in though but once broken in you'll have a lifetime
of tones to enjoy. And they don't 'flub out' or fizz out - they stay nice
and tight and clean. Obviously there is not a lot of clean headroom in
a Princeton but even when you get into power tube saturation these speakers
take that and turn it into a nice smooth warm crunch from the 6V6 amp.
Eminence Delta Demon -- another super smooth and warm sounding speaker.
Has slightly better note definition but doesn't have quite the top end
of the Lil Buddy. But it has this really nice warm mids and bottom
that are slinky smooth... another great jazz speaker.
I have personal experience with both the Lil Buddy and Delta Demon and these would be my
speaker picks for you and your particular needs. Nothing better out there for smooth
and defined tones. The Delta demon has a bit better note separation and definition
but it's splitting hairs here. The Lil Buddy is a little bit more smooth and smokey
sounding though. Both are excellent. You won't find better out there no matter
what you're willing to spend.
******************
I could only serious suggest the G10 Greenback for more rock n roll
and all sorts of R&B (trebly sort of rhythms) but I really can't suggest
this is a warm smooth jazz speaker. You'll be disappointed.
Squier
here's another important issue to consider --
the Lil Buddy and Delta Demon are very slow to breakup.
In fact the Princeton doesn't have enough wattage to drive
the speakers into breakup (which for jazz is a good thing).
The only 'breakup' sound you'll get is the inherent tube overdrive
from your power tubes and the speakers will not add in additional cone
breakup sounds. So you have fairly efficient, warm clean speakers here
which are perfect for jazz.
The Celestion G10 Greenbacks start their grumble and growl
early on. Just a few watts and the speakers are already doing
their greenback thing which I don't think any sort of jazz player wants.
Before the Princeton would deliver power tube saturation the Greenback
would already be going into its speaker breakup mode (which sounds really
cool in the context of live band playing and with most any other music
_except_ for jazz and fusion type stuff.)
ok. that's my final 2 cents.
ty
ty